Activity and growth continues across all commercial property types in 2017 and its particularly encouraging to see that activity is also being experienced outside of Dublin. This is very welcome when one considers that the country is emerging from the worst recession in its history. Unemployment now stands at just 6% - down from over 16% - which is at or close to full employment and which illustrates the dramatic progress which has been made in recent years.

A major new report has found that the cost of delivering a two-bedroom, low-rise apartment in the Greater Dublin Area is €293K ex VAT. The report by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland found that the cost to deliver medium rise (5-8 storey) apartments in the city ranged from a low of €470K to €578K at the higher end.

A major new survey has found that the median national annual salary for a Chartered Surveyor is €70,000 but the survey also found marked differences between pay levels in Dublin and the rest of the country.

A recent survey of property professionals suggests that national house prices are set to rise by 7% this year and by 15% in the next three years with agents in the Leinster region expecting house prices to increase for at least another 3 years.

Professionals in the built environment will need to focus on the opportunity technology and innovation brings to stay relevant and help Irish society meet its needs according to the newly elected President of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland, Colin Bray.